StarWind HCA Support Renewal

The contract solicitation titled StarWind HCA Support Renewal, identified by solicitation number 140G0326Q0103, seeks a two-year renewal of third-party maintenance and support services for an existing StarWind HyperConverged Appliance environment to ensure operational continuity as its legacy Dell R740xd2 servers approach end-of-life. The work is centered on sustaining the appliance's software and hardware functionality through patches, updates, diagnostics, and replacement coordination until a planned migration to a cloud-based infrastructure is complete. Performance is required at the USGS Alaska Science Center in Anchorage, Alaska, under FOB Destination terms, with a period of performance spanning June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2028. The contract is structured as a Firm Fixed Price arrangement under a Total Small Business Set-Aside, restricted to small businesses as defined by the NAICS code 541519 with a size standard of $34 million in annual receipts. Offerors must submit a completed SF-18 form, technical documentation proving compatibility with the StarWind HCA system, and at least two verifiable references for similar federal services performed within the past four years, along with a current UEI number and SAM registration. Evaluation will prioritize Technical Capability, Experience, and Past Performance as significantly more important than Price, with awards based on the most advantageous offer through a trade-off process—not on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable basis. Offerors must demonstrate robust contingency planning, adequate personnel and equipment availability, and thorough documentation meeting or exceeding the Statement of Work requirements. Special requirements include strict adherence to GS0199 for malicious code prevention, mandatory use of the U.S. Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) for all payments, and compliance with authorized deviations from standard FAR clauses including 52.204-7, 52.219-1, and 52.240-90, which govern SAM registration, small business representations, and prohibitions on certain Chinese telecommunications equipment. A Technical Liaison, currently TBD, is designated for technical clarification only and holds no authority to alter contract terms. All submissions must be sent via email to Joel Berberena of the U.S. Geological Survey by 5:00 AM Pacific Time on May 20, 2026, with no alternative submission methods permitted. Payment must be processed electronically via EFT, and contractors must comply with